A Life of Better Off Dead
Better Off Dead (1985) written and directed by Savage Steve Holland and starring John Cusack, David Ogden Siers, Kim Darby, Diane Franklin and Curtis Armstrong. I have my favorite movies. There are films I've seen over and over. But nothing comes close to B.O.D! In my family it's still a Christmas tradition.
I won't get into trying to explain why this movie means so much to me. It's not fully explain-able. I guess it just clicked with my sense of humor at a time when I was still wondering what it's like to have new romances and adventures as a goofy suburban kid.
So imagine my excitement when I saw that this year's Sketchfest includes a Better Off Dead 30 Year anniversary Live Read!
Right Off!....On!
Language Lessons. This piece is featured in Gallery 1988's book, Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art 2
If you have kept up with my artwork, you already know about my obsession with Better Off Dead. Two of the pieces I've done for Gallery 1988, Crazy 4 Cult shows are B.O.D. inspired. Language Lessons was part of my series of Weirdoes in Love which also featured Harold & Maude, Pee Wee Herman & Dottie, and Sailor & Lula from Wild at Heart.
Painting, It's Got Raisins In It involved a lot of tricky, wet-into-wet print transfers in order to get the rain-soaked recipe onto the illustration board. I'm very happy with the results. This one hangs proudly in our kitchen.
This 30th Anniversary Live Read is coming up faster than a paper boy, owed his two dollars. If I can figure out a way to get involved and help with some new merchandise, I will.
-Ben
It's Got Raisins In It, from Gallery 1988, Crazy 4 Cult, 2008
What Drives Doggies in Jalopies?
Less is More opens tonight at 111 Minna Gallery and since my new series, Doggies in Jalopies will be included in the show I thought I'd tell you a bit about my inspirations.
1. The Addams family.
Man, it still holds up! This TV SHOW inspires a lot of my artwork. Not necessarily in the literal, Goth sense. It's more the fact that my fiancee and I really relate to the lifestyle. Morticia, Gomez and their family weren't "outsiders." They're "insiders!" Their passions were not a reaction to anything. They simply were not concerned with how the rest of the world lived. They stayed inside and had fun together, their own way. People tend to see the Addams family as mascots to their own "alternative" macabre lifestyles, (probably because of the re-branding the Addams got for the films) but the original TV series was not so "dark." They weren't cruel. They didn't want cookies made from "real Girl Scouts." Aside from all the cartoon stuff like playing with dynamite, putting their own head in a vice or having a live hand in a box, these characters were loving and empathetic. The comedy came from their ignorance of how out-of-touch they were with the rest of the world.
Every episode pretty much went the same way. People from the outside world came upon the Addams' mansion. They would enter and see that mounted marlin with a leg coming out it's mouth, Lurch would grab someone's hat and they would get all "Whooooaaah! These these people are different. I'm scared!" And there is my point. The gag to this show was that there was ONE weird family and the rest of the world played the "straight man." Without the straight man, the one who is freaked out by the strangeness, there is no point. So what do we do now that everyone has a neck tattoo, peirced toes and the Taco Bell logo shaved into their hair? The whole world wants to be the Addams family, the ones weirding out the "norms." Well, I want to weird out the weirdoes, in part by painting off-puttingly wholesome subject-matter. Like Doggies in Jalopies.
2. Peter Helck
I don't know anything about cars or racing, really. My one attempt to be a classic car guy had me pushing a 1969 Mercury Cougar more than driving it. All of my obsession with turn-of-the-century autos and the 1908 Great Race points to one illustrator's book: Great Auto Races as told and painted by Peter Helck. I was floored when I first discovered this book at the Mill Valley library around 2003. I must have checked it out half a dozen times. The color book is 12"x13" and weighs approximately 160 pounds. Every one of the hundreds of paintings and drawings show an intimidating amount of action, movement and detail, all locked down with an incredibly informed, slightly pushed perspective. After almost a decade of keeping an eye out at used bookstores, I managed to find an affordable copy of Great Auto Races on Powell.com. This book is definitely on my short list of things I will grab in case of fire.
For more on Peter Helck (1893-1988) and his artwork check out this article on Vanderbilt Cup Races.
3. Edward Gorey
If you are familiar with my work, it can't be a huge surprise that I love Edward Gorey. Like the Addams family, his artwork is a bit dark but has all the charm and quiet homeyness of your grandparent's sooty fireplace. As an illustrator, his approach may just be the opposite of Peter Helck's. Gorey put his emphasis into meditatively scratching out marks with ink to tell his darkly deadpan stories. His drawings are fun, simple, and hold no attempts to "wow" anyone with dynamic points of view or his knowledge of rippling, human anatomy. Love it or hate it. His work is unapologetic.
Less is More opens Friday, April 4th at 111 Minna Gallery. 5pm-2am-ish 21& up. I hope to see you there!
-Walker
An Ultra-Styled Art Night
It's My Sketch Night
Do you like to draw? How do you feel about beautiful women? Drinks? It's all going to be at Folsom Street Foundry, Monday, February 24th. Oh, and it's free to attend.
You may already know of my clothed/costumed live drawing sessions, Pompsicle which ran every week for over 2 years in the Sacramento area. After my move to San Francisco, the sessions have continued in the capable hands of Ryan Cicak until last month when their venue closed. Anyway, I've been looking for a way to bring the ultra-styled art nights here. But it had to happen in the right way. A bigger, better way. And finally something has clicked in San Francisco!
My partner in crime, Amanda Storey will be modeling in vintage roller-fashion while we sketch , drink and snack. Even though this is a bit last minute, we want to show the good folks at Folsom Street Foundry how popular this sort of event can be. The place is huge and beatiful, with a bar, snacks, and lots of seating.
Bring your own sketching supplies.
Folsom Street Foundry
Monday 2-24, 5-7pm. 21 & up
1425 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Bag 'o' Movies, Live Art event at Zerofriends, SF
This Friday, February 21st from 6:30-8ish I will be hosting “Bag ‘o’ Movies,” a live drawing event at Zerofriends, SF! Contributing artists will place a favorite movie in a bag. One of these movies will be selected at random then the artists will create works based on that film as we screen it at the shop. The works created will be available to purchase, and we will have a few giveaways as well. Everyone is welcome to join us. Hang out and watch or even draw along with us!
I'll be joined by:
Zerofriends SF is at 419 Haight (at Fillmore), San Francisco, CA.
Be on the look-out for the bags 'o' goodies I'm leaving around San Francisco in anticipation of Bag 'o' Movies!
And check back for photos and artwork from the event!